Qur’an Memorisation Myths

This is my second post based on my notes taken from the course Innovative Ways to Memorise the Qur’an by Shaykh Yahyah Al-Ghawthany, may Allah preserve him. (Ameen).

There are myths and obstacles which must be dealt with prior to your memorisation of Qur’an. Rather, it must be dealt with now.

Previous myths about memorisation of Qur’an:

Memorising Qur’an is difficult

Memorising Qur’an requires a long time

I can’t memorise

Hifdh is for children, we missed our time

Mental delusions that one should get rid of:

My memory is limited and weak.

It’s impossible for me to memorise the Qur’an; rather it’s one of the seven impossible tasks.

Leave me as I am. Let’s be realistic!

I cannot concentrate… my brain is dense/ my head is thick.

Hifdh requires a genius.

Shaykh Yahyah made us cross out these statments and write over them:

And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?

You have to re-program your subconscious mind. How? For each of these statements, turn them around. Before you even want to think that the Qur’an is difficult, stop your thought in its tracks and say the opposite. For example, when you think ” I can’t memorise,” say Allah gave me the great ability to memorise, Alhamdulillah. When you think, “My memory is limited and weak,” say Alhamdulillah, I have a great memory.

Excite your mind: Tell yourself: I love Qur’an!!!

Start when you feel like memorising. It’s okay to give yourself a day or two off in the week and say that you don’t feel like memorising the Qur’an that day, on condition. The condition is that you specify how much you’re going to memorise the next day, and for that week.

Make a firm decision as to how much you will memorise from this Saturday to next Saturday. Take a deep breath while you make the decision, as it helps you to make a decision. Now, fill in the blank for yoursef: I have firmly intended and decided to memorise____________. This is one of the most beautiful decisions in your life.